Bush team 'issued hundreds of false statements on Iraq'

A study by two non-profit journalism organisations says US president George Bush and administration chiefs issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terror attacks.

A study by two non-profit journalism organisations says US president George Bush and administration chiefs issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terror attacks.

The study concluded that the statements “were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanised public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretences”.

The study was posted on the website of the Centre for Public Integrity, which worked with the Fund for Independence in Journalism.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel did not comment on the merits of the study early today, but reiterated the administration’s position that the world community viewed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as a threat.

“The actions taken in 2003 were based on the collective judgment of intelligence agencies around the world,” Mr Stanzel said.

The study counted 935 false statements in the two-year period. It found that in speeches, briefings, interviews and other venues, Bush and administration officials stated unequivocally on at least 532 occasions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or was trying to produce or obtain them or had links to al-Qaida or both.

“It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaida,” according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members, writing an overview of the study.

“In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19 2003.”

Named in the study along with Bush were top officials of the administration during the period studied: vice president Dick Cheney; national security adviser Condoleezza Rice; defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld; secretary of state Colin Powell, deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz; and White House press secretaries Ari Fleischer and Scott McClellan.

Mr Bush led with 259 false statements, 231 about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 28 about Iraq’s links to al-Qaida, the study found. That was second only to Mr Powell’s 244 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 10 about Iraq and al-Qaida.

The centre said the study was based on a database created with public statements over the two years beginning on September 11 2001, and information from more than 25 government reports, books, articles, speeches and interviews.

“The cumulative effect of these false statements – amplified by thousands of news stories and broadcasts – was massive, with the media coverage creating an almost impenetrable din for several critical months in the run-up to war,” the study concluded.

“Some journalists – indeed, even some entire news organisations – have since acknowledged that their coverage during those pre-war months was far too deferential and uncritical. These mea culpas notwithstanding, much of the wall-to-wall media coverage provided additional, ’independent’ validation of the Bush administration’s false statements about Iraq,” it said.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

‘Best minds in the world’ working on plans for bridge’s removal ‘Best minds in the world’ working on plans for bridge’s removal
Joe Biden
Barack Obama Former presidents help Joe Biden raise $26m for campaign
Cosmic explosion to create bright ‘new star’ in night sky for several days Cosmic explosion to create bright ‘new star’ in night sky for several days
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited